If any dish reminds me of spiciness, it is this thin south Indian soup called Rasam. It binds all of south India. There are different kinds of rasam varying by ingredients and each one has a unique taste, but the common factor in them is the sourness. The tangy flavor comes from tomatoes or tamarind or lemon or a combination of two. Aside from sourness lentils are added to give body and texture to the soup. Then it is mixed with variety of spices that lends the soup its depth and flavor. I love all kinds of rasam, sometimes I make it thin with very less or no daal like a clear soup or somewhat thick like the one I am sharing, today.
With simple ingredients rasam is one of that soul satisfying dish that provides health benefits and is easy to make. It improves the appetite and good to be taken when you have cold related headaches and nasal congestion. It can be eaten with steamed rice or alone as a soup.
I find rasam a lighter version of sambar, yet with a distinct and appealing flavor. Try it once and I bet you will be hooked, though I must give you an honest warning, this soup is on fiery side. But you may choose to reduce the amount of heat to make it milder or if you are like me then add a tsp of brown sugar to your bowl or eat it with rice, that cuts down the spiciness a little.
A spicy south indian tomato soup that is delicious and nourishing.
Ingredients
- 4 firm ripe tomatoes
- 2-3 tbsp mashed toor daal (optional)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
- 1/2 - 3/4 tsp red chili powder
- 1/2 - 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1-2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp oil or desi ghee
- 10 -12 curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 2-3 dried red chilies
Instructions
- Move oven rack to the highest position and turn on the broiler.
- Wash the tomatoes and slice them in half. Arrange on a baking sheet with the cut side down.
- Broil the tomatoes until the skins are blackened. This should take 4-5 minutes.
- Let the tomatoes cool enough to handle and then slip the skin off.
- Chop tomatoes. In a medium saucepan combine tomatoes with the other ingredients under tomato broth. Place over medium heat.
- Bring it to boil, reduce heat, cover partially and simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes.
- Heat oil in a small pan, add mustard seeds and red chilies, when it splutters add curry leaves and pour it over the cooked rasam.
- Serve steaming hot.
Notes
When I make sambar I boil extra toor daal and freeze for making quick rasam.
Monica
I love all kinds of soups, including ones with some sour flavor to it, and I think I would really enjoy this. Sounds tasty and also like it’d be excellent for your digestion. I was having some soup tonight and thinking it is really worth the effort to make and have it around. Not that it’s all that much work anyway.
Balvinder
I m glad you enjoy all types of soups. This soup is sour and spicy. enjoy!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I too love soups! Going to have some fennel soup for the lunch too. Your tomato soup looks simply delicious.
Nava Krishnan
We love any kind of rasam and at any time. Its the soup we miss so much when we travel overseas. I am loving this tomato version of yours.
Balvinder
With the number of rasam recipes on your blog there’s no doubt that you love it. Thank you for liking my version.
Coffee and Crumpets
I love the sour rasam with rice, lots of soup and a little rice! Comfort food at its best.
This looks delicious Bal.
Balvinder
Thank you Nazneen, like you I add a very little rice or quinoa to my rasam.
yummychunklet
Sounds like an intriguing soup!
Choc Chip Uru
This soup looks wonderful, the tomato flavour is blooming 😀
Cheers
CCU
Jennifer Eloff
This soup sounds so delicious, Balvinder. Have a great rest of the week!
ela@it is better when I make it myself
Lovely soup. Right up in my menu for the fall season. Thanks 🙂
Sugar et al
I enjoy a little heat in my rasam and nothing like rice to go along with it. You are right about getting hooked to it…the flavours just explode in the mouth. Looks beautiful Balvinder!
Juliana
Soup? Yes, especially that the weather is getting colder…I might decrease the amount of heat, but I love everything in this soup…really flavorful.
Thanks for the recipe Balvinder and have a wonderful week ahead 😀
Katerina
Well the fiery hot made me hesitant since I have a problem with my stomach! But it certainly looks delicious Balvinder!
cquek
Your meal sounds delicious and imaginative.
anne
Bal , this simple yet flavorful tomato soup looks wonderful ! Love the spices in this dish 🙂 The salmon and salad certainly goes perfectly with this spicy soup . Okay , a bowl of rice will do as well lol
Ambreen (Simply Sweet n Savory)
This spicy soup sounds healthy, flavorful & delicious.
Chai a Cup of Life
I’m a huge fan of Sambar and this recipe appealed to me. However, I would have to reduce the spiciness!! Looks Delicious 🙂
Balvinder
I too love sambar and also rasams, and like you have a lower spice tolerance. So, normally I eat this with sides that has no spices or add brown sugar to my bowl, which adds a bit of extra flavor and neutralizes the spiciness.